DISQUS

Tobin · 1 year ago

you should check out Google Friend Connect

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

Thanks Tobin, I will.

Tobin · 1 year ago

it's an interesting new beta service that's pretty cool, but your overall point is definitely correct, there just isn't the draw unless you're prepared to put millions of dollars into it.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

Sometimes integrating a site like ning.com can be useful for small group/organization communication, but yeah, large-scale social networks just aren't worth it.

JAG · 1 year ago

Damn right! I had a brief moment where I thought about creating a social network for my boss, just for our hardcore supporters to feel at home, and realized that the output to creating a separate network, plus the absolute lack of time we already had, made the idea useless.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

Yeah. The sad thing is a lot of people put in the time and effort to create on and later realize that users aren't coming.

Meryn Stol · 1 year ago

I think starting your own social network is justified if you're going to add unique functionality. Just spreading a message and connecting like-minded people is done fine via myspace, facebook, digg, friendfeed, blogs, etc. Yet, the new functionality must be truly worth it. Mixx hasn't be able to convince me it's better than Digg, for example.

Also, if your target demographic is likely to be all on Facebook, a Facebook app may suffice. Though I still like stand-alone apps better than Facebook apps. I think they will always have an edge.

So indeed, if you're not trying to be a game changer in terms of functionality, don't bother with your own network.

Things like Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect could be nice, but if your launching something new (say: something of the importance of Digg) it may be that not all of the people you're targeting have an account on facebook or google. I think that if you provide enough value, users will be happy to enter a few personal details. Just keep it light. Don't ask for more than you need.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

Mostly I'm talking about the creation of a full-blown social network. Sometimes implementing your own reddit can work because they make the deployment relatively easy and its purpose is a little different from a pure networking site.

Another advantage of working with existing social networks as opposed to building your own is that your supporters are already connected to people that may be persuadable. On your own social network, the only users and connections will be with people that are already firm supporters. The ability of your supporters to spread your message on their own social networks is part of the value, and that is something you don't get from your own.

I understand how the Obama campaign is using their social network as an activist tool more than a pure social network, and for them that implementation makes sense, but it is far from perfect. But like I mentioned earlier, this was created by the best funded political campaign in the history of the world with some of the best internet staff in the country. Pretty much nobody else could pull off anything close.

philipcalvert · 1 year ago

Yep - spot on. Unless you're reaching out to a demographic that DOESN'T already frequent any existing networks, and who is intrigued about the idea of having their own platform.

Yes - there are a lot of people who fall into that bracket.

Niche is everything from now on.

roubi l' roubi · 1 year ago

Interesting article on social networks.

I agree to a certain degree that individuals and companies should think hard at the reasons as to why and the time it requires to start and maintain a branded social network. Many fail along the way.

However, social networks with a focus and great content do work in attracting members who are tired to huge massive ones as the ones mentioned in the article. They seek more tailored and meaningful subject of matters rather than being on ones that offer tools to just stay in touch and random connect with others.

I believe there is definately a market and audience for both. Our own creative network is based on fashion and art such as photography does work and creates value around our brand.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

My point is mostly about political campaigns and organizations creating their own social networks. I know of a lot of smaller niche networks that are very good, but they aren't political. Social networks built around art, like Behance, are actually useful.

Digital Biographer · 1 year ago

You need focus, content, relevance in any social network, be it a niche interest or generic network. People will join things that interest them - just because your network did not interest them, it's no reason to draw the conclusion that nobody else should bother.

I think the key to a successful network is having talented community managers and individuals who act as catalysts and influencers within the network, and working to expand the network. Sure, you have to go where the people are, but you can also create a place where the people want to go - and the smart way is to create groups and causes within those places - the technology is already there to use, and it's mostly free.

Like most political organisations, you need to get good, passionate people in there. The difference with an online network is that you have to let non-politicians drive the agenda, ad let the politicians shut up for once and just listen.

That's the part nobody has worked out - well, except perhaps Obama - he uses the fact that he has two ears and one mouth in correct proportion.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

"just because your network did not interest them, it's no reason to draw the conclusion that nobody else should bother."

I actually haven't created a social network. The picture at the top is a photoshopped parody of my.barackobama.com.

Here is the point. In the political world, you have a finite amount of resources and more importantly time. The amount of both it would take to create a social network, get enough users on it for it to be worthwhile, and continue to maintain it would be overwhelming. In political organizing you should go where the people are.

Digital Biographer · 1 year ago

I spotted the parody, (and nice photoshopping) but this is what I must have misread: -

"At the Arizona Democratic Party, we had the BlueStateDigital social networking component that both the DNC and the Obama campaign use. Tony Cani was the first person to try to get it to take off, I was the second. No matter how much I tried to get our supporters on to our social network to use those tools, it just wouldn’t happen. I would have to go to Facebook and MySpace instead."

I thought you were quoting someone else there. OK. So maybe we use quotation marks in a different way over in the UK when we report someone else's words. ;-) "My mistake."

My point remains Kevin, that tiny or vast social networks are actually quite easy to set up and maintain with the right people (and it can be a 1-man team) in place to run them - see ning.com for the free toolkit. When defining what is 'worthwhile' usually only comes once every four years or so for voters, I think it's a really pertinent metric when you consider, for example, how many votes made the difference in Florida for the Gore vs. Bush presidential campaign.

Politics is the art of the possible, but online, you really ain't seen nothing yet.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

Actually we both got confused here. I wasn't quoting. The Arizona Democratic Party example was coming from me. What I meant was that I did not actually create the social network. It was a part of the tools we purchased from BSD. That's where the confusion was.

There are other social networks that haven't really been effective either. Nobody uses think.mtv.com, which was supposed to be the hip new network for socially-minded young people. When I see some examples of successful campaign social networks other than myBO maybe I'll be convinced otherwise.

Spleenie · 1 year ago

Agreed on social networks - game over. However, there is value in building vertical professional networks with the goal being to offer content around career advancement and training, as well as, new employment opportunities.

luigimontanez · 1 year ago

Hmm, I disagree here because there's a fundamental difference between social networks (like Facebook, MySpace, etc) and social *activism* networks like MyBO. And there's also a fundamental difference for the purposes they serve.

You're completely right that a campaign should get on MySpace, Facebook, etc because it allows them to do outreach on potential supporters who they normally couldn't have gotten to. Going to where the people are instead of expecting them to come to you.

But when it comes to winning a campaign, there needs to be a system to get people organized: training volunteers, organizing house parties, canvassing neighborhoods to identify support, conducting voter registration drives, and finally executing GOTV. That's where the tools of an activism network like MyBO really come into play. That simply can't be done as effectively as piggybacking off MySpace or Facebook. External tools will never work 100% as needed.

Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago

That's true, and myBO has been pretty effective with it, but like I said, it's the most well-funded campaign in the history of politics. I think that myBO has actually been very successful and was a good investment, but I think that the advantages of the Obama campaign allowed it to be successful, and advantages that other campaigns and organizations just don't have.

Should a state legislature race build it's own social network? Congressional? Maybe we will get to the point where it becomes cost effective for campaigns, but we aren't there yet.

And it's true that external tools never work 100% as needed, but then again, internal tools never work 100% as needed either.

Ben B · 11 months ago

Does anyone know of any existing site that has a social framework (like MyBO) for grassroots groups to create and manage multiple local campaigns? I would love to have something similar to MyBO to continue organizing on a local level. Any thoughts? I have looked at ning.com, but it doesn't have the ability to create 'campaigns'.

Also, yourowndemocracy.org looks great if it takes off: http://www.techpresident.com/blog/entry/33229/y...

Thanks for the great work!
-Ben

Philippe · 9 months ago

New political website is about to be lunched soon: www.presidentoftheworld.com –
I just registered to the actual Beta version.
It has a 'Fun Touch' that others do not have and potentially could be as successful as a ‘generic’ Social Network since it combines all functionalities that a generic Social Network has but a Register person become a ‘Resident of the World’, and according to my understanding, could elected and become a Deputy then Super Deputy. Plus, the must of the must, a ‘Resident’ can be elected ‘President Of The World’.
Heum.. that sounds good. Who did not ever dream becoming the President Of The World!!?
www.Presidentoftheworld.com - a political Website to be monitored very closely.